Plans of Study
Option 1 – Two-year full-time plan of study
Students in this plan of study enter the MSW program in the fall semester and complete the degree over four terms of study in two academic years.
Year 1 (Foundation Curriculum- 30 credits)
| Term One - Fall: 15 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 500 | Foundation Field Education Practicum I w/ Seminar* | 3 |
| SW 501 | Social Work Practice I: Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SW 504 | Social Welfare Policy | 3 |
| SW 505 | Social Work Research | 3 |
| SW 506 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I - Theories | 3 |
| Term Two - Spring: 15 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 502 | Foundation Field Education Practicum II w/ seminar* | 3 |
| SW 503 | Social Work Practice II: Groups, Communities and Organizations | 3 |
| SW 507 | Human Behavior in the Social Envionment II - Issues of Diversity and Oppression | 3 |
| SW 508 | Pyschopathology | 3 |
| SW 509 | Inter-Professional Education (IPE) Option | 3 |
*The field education placement is 16 hours per week
Year 2 (Advanced Concentration Curriculum- 30 credits)
| Term Three - Fall: 15 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 600 | Advanced Field Education Practicum I in Health/Behavioral Health with Seminar* | 4 |
| SW 601 | Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SW 604 | Evaluation Research | 2 |
| Elective** | 3 | |
| Elective** | 3 | |
| Term Four - Spring: 15 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 602 | Advanced Field Education Practicum II in Health/Behavioral Health w/ Seminar* | 4 |
| SW 603 | Advanced Organizational SW Practice: Program Management, Supervision and Professional Ethics | 3 |
| SW 605 | Integrative Seminar/Capstone Project | 2 |
| Elective** | 3 | |
| Elective** | 3 | |
*The field education placement is 24 hours per week
** There are four elective courses; however, one must be an advanced clinical course, and an additional elective must support the chosen field of practice.
An education abroad experience is available:
The advanced concentration field placement and two electives may be taken in June-November of the second year of study in India at an approved MSW program. Classes are offered in English.
This is a unique opportunity for those interested in global health and community practice.
With this option, Year 1 is taken following the regular full-time program just described. Interested students will apply for this option in the fall of the first semester. If accepted, SW 601 and SW 604 are taken in the first summer session following the Year 1 classes. In the second summer session following Year 1 and the fall of Year 2, the student will be in India completing the advanced field practicum of 600 hours, SW 600 and SW 602, and two of the elective courses for the advanced concentration curriculum. In the spring semester of Year 2, the final 12 credits of courses (SW 603, SW 605, and two electives) are taken at Quinnipiac University.
Option 2 – Three-year extended plan of study
In this plan of study, the foundation curriculum is completed over two years on a "part-time" basis and the advanced concentration curriculum is completed full-time over the last nine months of study. That is, the MSW is completed over six terms of study in three academic years. Students usually enter this plan for the MSW program in the fall semester.
Year 1 (Foundation Curriculum- 12 credits)
Note: Classes will be offered in evenings.
| Term One - Fall: 6 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 505 | Social Work Research | 3 |
| SW 506 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I - Theories | 3 |
| Term Two - Spring: 6 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 504 | Social Welfare Policy | 3 |
| SW 507 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II - Issues of Diversity and Oppression | 3 |
Year 2 (Foundation Curriculum- 18 credits)
| Term Three - Fall: 9 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 500 | Foundation Field Education Practicum I w/ Seminar* | 3 |
| SW 501 | Social Work Practice I: Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SW 508 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| Term Four - Spring: 9 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 502 | Foundation Field Education Practicum II w/ Seminar* | 3 |
| SW 503 | Social Work Practice II: Groups, Communities and Organizations | 3 |
| SW 509 | Inter-Professional Education (IPE) Option | 3 |
*The field placement is 16 hours per week
Year 3 (Advanced Concentration Curriculum- 30 credits)
| Term Five - Fall: 15 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 600 | Advanced Field Education Practicum I in Health/Behavioral Health w/ Seminar** | 4 |
| SW 601 | Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SW 604 | Evaluation Research | 2 |
| Elective*** | 3 | |
| Elective*** | 3 | |
| Term Six - Spring: 15 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 602 | Advanced Field Education Practicum II in Health/Behavioral Health w/ Seminar** | 4 |
| SW 603 | Advanced Organizational SW Practice: Program Management, Supervision and Professional Ethics | 3 |
| SW 605 | Integrative Seminar/Capstone Project | 2 |
| Elective*** | 3 | |
| Elective*** | 3 | |
**The field placement is 24 hours per week
***There are four elective courses; however, one must be an advanced clinical course, and an additional elective must support the chosen field of practice.
An education abroad experience is available:
The advanced concentration field placement and two electives may be taken in June-November of the second year of study in India at an approved MSW program. Classes are offered in English.
This is a unique opportunity for those interested in global health and community practice.
For more information on this opportunity, please see the option 1 description.
Option 3 – Accelerated plan of study
This plan is for those applicants with outstanding academic achievement in an undergraduate program and evidence of experience in social services (either through employment or internships). If accepted, students complete the MSW over four full terms of study, beginning in spring and including one summer semester. The full MSW program is completed in 16 months.
It is anticipated that admission to this option will be very competitive, and not all those who apply will be accepted (the other two options will be available). Also, the education abroad experience is not available to those in this accelerated option.
Note: Foundation field education is 16 hours per week and advanced field education is 24 hours per week.
| Term One - Spring: 15 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 500 | Foundation Field Education Practicum I with Seminar | 3 |
| SW 501 | Social Work Practice I: Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SW 504 | Social Welfare Policy | 3 |
| SW 505 | Social Work Research | 3 |
| SW 506 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I - Theories | 3 |
| Term Two - Summer: 15 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 502 | Foundation Field Education Practicum II with Seminar | 3 |
| SW 503 | Social Work Practice II: Groups, Communities and Organizations | 3 |
| SW 507 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II - Issues of Diversity and Oppression | 3 |
| SW 508 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| SW 509 | Inter-Professional Education (IPE) Option | 3 |
| Term Three - Fall: 15 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 600 | Advanced Field Education Practicum I in Health/Behavioral Health w/ Seminar | 4 |
| SW 601 | Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SW 604 | Evaluation Research | 2 |
| Elective* | 3 | |
| Elective* | 3 | |
| Term Four - Spring: 15 credits | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| SW 602 | Advanced Field Education Practicum II in Health/Behavioral Health w/ Seminar | 4 |
| SW 603 | Advanced Organizational SW Practice: Program Management, Supervision and Professional Ethics | 3 |
| SW 605 | Integrative Seminar/Capstone Project | 2 |
| Elective* | 3 | |
| Elective* | 3 | |
*There are four elective courses; however, one must be an advanced clinical course, and an additional elective must support the chosen field of practice.